Tkachuk showing style, swagger with Panthers 2 wins from Cup Final

RALEIGH, N.C. --Matthew Tkachuk skated off the PNC Arena ice with style and swagger.

Should anything less be expected from the Florida Panthers forward, who has cemented his status as Public Enemy No. 1 in a third city during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs?

In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, Tkachuk scored a power-play goal at 1:51 of overtime to give the Panthers a 2-1 victory.

Immediately after Tkachuk shot the puck past the outstretched glove of Carolina goalie Antti Raanta 12 seconds into a penalty against Jesperi Kotkaniemi, he made a beeline for the door to the dressing room, pointing at it, flicking his shoulders there and seemingly mouthing the words "Let's go!"

Tkachuk was halfway down the hallway before his teammates left the ice.

Villains always make a hasty exit, no?

"The old bus in 10 (minutes) celebration," Tkachuk said when asked to explain.

He performed a similar one when he scored with 13 seconds left in the fourth overtime of a 3-2 win in Game 1 on Thursday. Understandably, it lacked some of the gusto of the Game 2 exit after almost 80 minutes of extra hockey.

His thought process behind the celebrations?

"Let's get out of here," he said. "It has been a lot of hockey the past two games."

Successful hockey.

RELATED: [Complete Hurricanes vs. Panthers series coverage]

The Panthers have taken an early stranglehold on the best-of-7 series ahead of Game 3 at FLA Live Arena on Monday (8 p.m. ET, TNT, CBC, SN TVAS).

"We walk into the rink tonight and it feels like we never left," Florida coach Paul Maurice said after Game 2. "We've been in this rink a lot and I think we're just pretty happy to be up two and get out of here."

Teams that have taken a 2-0 lead in a best-of-7 series in the round before the Stanley Cup Final go on to win it 90.7 percent of the time (78-8). The Panthers have won the two series in their history (2023 second round, 1996 conference quarterfinals) when leading 2-0; the lowest seed in the East this season is two wins from reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the second time (1996).

It was the third overtime goal for Tkachuk, who also won Game 5 of the first round at the Boston Bruins, tying an NHL record for the most in one playoff season (Corey Perry, 2017; Maurice Richard, 1951; Mel Hill, 1939). He has factored in four overtime goals, including the secondary assist on Carter Verhaeghe's series-winner against the Bruins in Game 7, to tie another NHL postseason record held by Jarome Iginla (2004), Adam Oates (2003) and Ray Ferraro (1993). His five assists in the second round (three in Game 1) helped the Panthers eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs in five games.

"It seems like every time we need a big play, he steps up," Florida forward Nick Cousins said Sunday. "All the credit goes to him. He's a big-game player. It seems like any time we need a hit, a big play, a goal, it seems like he comes up big, so we're lucky to have him."

Tkachuk has 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 14 games after he had 109 points (40 goals, 69 assists) in 79 games during the regular season. He's been involved in almost every big play since he was sent to Florida in a trade with the Calgary Flames on July 22, 2022. He dragged the Panthers into the fight down the stretch of the regular season and has led in every way during the postseason.

"He is the man that has been in the right spot at the right time, and he has been doing it for us the whole season," defenseman Radko Gudas said. "It's a treat to watch and a treat to be his teammate. I am enjoying the ride.

"He is a great person to be around, and he is a glue guy in our room as well. He came in [this season] and it's felt like he has been five or six years. He is doing all the right things we need him to do. He is leading by example. It is what you want from your best players."

Captain Aleksander Barkov is also one of the best players on the Panthers. He's in awe of Tkachuk at times.

"He's been huge for us," Barkov said. "Not just scoring goals, not just making plays, but everything about being a hockey player in the team, being a leader in the team.

"He's been doing everything as good as possible. He's unbelievable."